NFL Playoffs – Conference Championship edition

Too much work, not enough play.  Another short recap this week.  Hoping things get back to normal around here sometime in the very near future.

The NFL Conference Championship games are Sunday.  Four teams left.  In the first contest of the day, at 3pm, the Jets come to Indianapolis to take on the offensive juggernaut that is the Colts and Payton Manning.  The Jets have one of the leagues top defenses and will test Manning from the start.  They will have to key on WR Reggie Wayne and TE Dallas Clark to take away some of Peyton’s threat, put the pressure on Manning up front and make them try the running game a bit more.  The Jets have a great ground game with Shonn Green and Thomas Jones but I think the Colts defense is up to the task.  Rookie QB Mark Sanchez could have a rough afternoon if he’s forced to rely on the pass too much.  Vegas has the odds at 8.5 in the Colts favor with the O/U at 40.  I can’t bet against Peyton.  Colts by 13.

The second match-up of the day brings the Minnesota Vikings and Brett Favre to the Big Easy to take on Drew Brees and the New Orlean Saints.  Game time is 6:30pm.  Favre wants a ring.  Brees isn’t going to let him get one.  The Saints looked like a Super Bowl team last week with their drubbing of the Cardinals.  Their high powered offense should take the Vikings apart.  The only worries for the Saints will be containing Jared Allen from the edge.  Brees is quick to step up and get the ball away, though, so that could be a moot point.  Favre will have a reasonable day though I think he’ll turn the ball over a couple times.  Vegas has the odds at 3.5 in favor of the saints with the O/U at 53.5 points.  I take the Saints by 10.